Final answer:
Equations A (y = -3x), B (y = 0.2 + 0.74x), and C (y = -9.4 - 2x) from the options provided are all linear functions because they take the form y = mx + b and would graph as straight lines, indicating a direct relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Which of these represents a linear function?" pertains to identifying equations that have the characteristics of a linear function. A linear function can always be expressed in the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. Looking at the options provided, equations A (y = -3x), B (y = 0.2 + 0.74x), and C (y = -9.4 - 2x) are all linear because they fit the format of a linear equation. Their graphs would produce a straight line on a coordinate plane, indicating a direct relationship between the variables .
By contrast, quadratic, inverse, and exponential functions—which produce curves or different rates of change—do not represent linear functions. Equations such as y = x^2 (quadratic), y = 1/x (inverse), or y = 2^x (exponential) would not be classified as linear. Therefore, A, B, and C from the provided options are indeed linear equations.A linear function is a function that can be represented by a straight line. In algebraic terms, a linear function is of the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept. Examples of linear functions include y = -3x, y = 0.2 + 0.74x, and y = -9.4 - 2x.